Water Ways
WHEN any human endeavor is able to survive a century of continuity, you have got to believe it's doing something right. Fishing for some good will
The Hawaii Yacht Club began a yearlong celebration of its 100th birthday last October and Goodwill Industries, established in Boston by the Rev. Edgar J. Helms in 1902, celebrates its centennial this year as well.
So when the HYC and Goodwill Industries of Hawaii get together to create an event, you can trust it will be special -- especially when they have had a dozen prior years of practice.
Their 13th annual Goodwill Fishing Tournament was held Sunday and more than 70 Goodwill clients participated.
These clients are people of all ages who receive occupational training at Goodwill's facility in Mapunapuna. They are given the opportunity to learn skills in computer operation, food service, industrial/custodial operations and retail sales.
The clients are referred to Goodwill because they are personally challenged by barriers to employment such as developmental, physical, emotional or mental disabilities.
They may also have vocational or economic hurdles with regard to job layoffs, limited work experience or welfare dependency.
Nevertheless, once they arrived at the HYC, they were all excited anglers more than ready to catch fish.
In less time than seemed possible, thanks in part to the organizational skills of veteran volunteers Barbara Silvey and Commodore Al Bento, the clients had boarded the 19 boats made available by owners from both the HYC and the neighboring Waikiki Yacht Club.
As the designated fishing grounds were just outside the harbor entrance, the anglers were soon reeling in their catches with all of the excitement of children at Christmas.
The stop fishing signal was given after two hours and with a few cries of "Not yet!" everyone headed back to the club for the official weigh-in.
The weigh-in process became more complicated than it sounds because every effort was made to keep the fish alive for their eventual return to the ocean.
That meant the judges had to attempt to measure, weigh and categorize every wiggling, slippery creature the anglers presented them without causing them harm.
Eventually it was determined that a total of 131 fish had been caught, with a combined weight of 1,137 ounces.
For some reason, the heaviest fish caught was not identified, but it weighed 42 ounces and was brought in by Myran Tateyana aboard Jim Canelli's boat Ono.
The most fish caught by a single angler was 18, boated by Sheldon Uchiyama on Kim Higa's Sea Ninja.
Angler Sang Min Byun, who fished aboard Lee Severs' sportfisher Sea Verse, weighed in the heaviest total catch of fish. And the prize for the longest fish went to Paul Kaopua, who had also been out on Sea Verse.
The award for the most colorful fish was claimed by Arthur Rivera who fished aboard Golden Marlin, skippered by Tim Rhea.
The final prize was awarded to Salvador Caguioa, aboard Rick Abille's Blue Diamond, for bringing in the smallest fish in the tournament -- an almost nonexistent .4-ounce catch.
Congratulations Goodwill and HYC, the tournament was very special.
Ray Pendleton is a free-lance writer based in Honolulu.
His column runs Saturdays in the Star-Bulletin.
He can be reached by e-mail at raypendleton@mac.com.